Hat-brim stretcher.



E. J. MEL'LEN. HAT BRIM STRETCHER.

(Application filed Mar. 18, 1901.)

Patented Sept. 23, I902.

(No Model). 2 Sheets3heef 2.

WITNESSES? K L) m ATTORNEY UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

'EDWARD J. MELLEN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY BERG, OF ORANGE VALLEY, NEW JERSEY.

HAT-BRIIVI STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 709,643, dated September 23, 1902.

Application filed March 18,1901. Serial No. 51,660. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. MELLEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have madea new and useful Improvementin Hat-Brim Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a means and method for relieving the operator from the strain usually imposed by the present machines employed for stretching hatbrims in that it provides a weighted lever so attached that the shock caused by the agitation will be taken up by the weight, thus relieving the operator, as will be explained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my machine on the line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my machine in its inoperative position. Fig. 4 is a detail view on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A represents the frame for carrying the operative parts of a hat-stretch ing or, more properly, a brim-stretching machine.

B is a shaft extending vertically'upward through the frame and supporting the under member O of the hat-stretcher.

D is the ring which supports thelower member of the hat-stretcher, and it is supported by the arm E, pivoted to the ring D at F. This is the ordinary and Well-understood construction in such machines. The lower end of the arm E is provided with a bearing G, adapted to travel on the surface H of the arm J. The arm J and the lever K are mounted upon and secured to the center L and will move in unison.

The main power-shaft is shown at M and is provided with an eccentric M, which gives intermittent movement to the pitman-rods N. The pitman-rods N operate the verticallymoving rods 0, the latter being connected to the upper member P of the hat-stretcher.

The under member 0 is lifted into operative position by means of the shaft B, having collarB. The shaft B is also provided with fixed collar Q, having toggle R S T and treadle T. A counterweight T is provided for Withdrawing the parts into inoperative position. The arm E connects the collar Q to the arm E. Upon pressing down on the treadle T the parts carrying the under member of the hat-stretcher are thrown into operative position.

Upon the hat-cone being placed in position between the upper and lower members aforesaid a violent agitation is caused by the intermittent action of the upper member upon the lower member through the medium of the hat-body being operated upon, which agitation is taken up by the arm E and transferred to the bearing-surface H. Ordinarily a lever is provided in connection with this bearingsurface, and the workman or operator by a firm grasp thereon and by adding his weight thereto has afforded the resistance necessary to keep the upper and under members of the former sufficiently close together to press and mold the hat into shape, and herein resides my invention, by relieving the operator in this connection and providing a weight properly attached and balanced in lieu thereof. To this end I provide a link K, pivoted at one end to the lever K and at the other end to the rock-arm U. This rock-arm has an extension U, on which I place a weight V. This weight is adjustable on the extended arm U, and a locking-screw V is provided to fix it in any desired position.

I provide a bracket W, attached to the frame A and supporting the arm U. A pin X extends through the frame A and bracket W. On this pinthe rock-arm U turns. The pin is suitably secured at both ends.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the weight thrown back into an inoperative position. In this position the surface H is placed beyond the reach of the movement of the bearing G. \Vhen the machineisto resume operation, the

"weight is placed back in the operative position shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a brim-stretching machine, the combination of the vibrating stretching and brimforming mechanism provided with a bearingsurface, a compensating weight, a supporting-leverpivoted in the frame of the machine, an arm upon which the aforesaid bearing travels and connections between said arm and the weighted lever, all adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a brim-stretching machine, the combination of the vibrating, stretching and brimforming mechanism provided with a bearingsurface, a compensating weight, a supporting-lever pivoted in the frame of the machine, an 'arm upon which the aforesaid bearing travels, connections between said arm and 10 the weighted lever, and means for throwing said weighted lever into an inoperative position, as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD J. MELLEN. 

